Bandage



(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 10, 1896.

PROVOGST BANDAGB.

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CHARLOTTE ADELAIDE PROVOOST, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

BAN DAG E.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters P Application filed March ll, 1896 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLOTTE ADELAIDE PROVOOST, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding in the city of Bua-lo, county of Erie, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abdominal Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to surgical bandages in general, but more particularly to that class of devices known as laparotomy bands,

appendicitis bandages, anc abdominal supporters.

The objects sought to be attained by my improvements comprise certain features in the construction of the bandage, whereby ease and facility of adjustment of the parts are obtained, and especially in the perineal or thigh straps, which assist in holding the bandage in place upon the wearer.

With these objects in view I make my band age in two sections-one to fit the contour of the abdomen and one to conform to the shape of the back or waistand these two sections are adjusted by straps and buckles located 'at the hips within easy reach of the wearer. This feature is of more importance than would at iirst appear. The front section being made to t the abdomen, in order that it should be held in a central position it will be obvious that the adjusting-straps must be located at opposite sides, because if straps are located only at the left hip, as is usually the case with bandages of this character, if the size of the abdomen changes either to greater or lesser dimensions the front portion of the bandage cannot be adjusted to occupy an exactly central position. IV ith adjusting-straps at each hip a perfect iit i-s assured, even if some changes in size and contour take place, because the take-up occurs at both sides, and the front section can be centrally located and held in place. I also regard the perineal or thigh straps which I have devised as an important element of my invention. The ordinary elastic-webbing straps used with surgical bandages very soon deteriorate, owing to the constant strains upon them and the deleterious effects of perspiration. As a result the thin filaments of rubber give way one at a time, until the webbing loses its elasticity. Moreover, this webbing becomes soiled and canatent No. 571,172, dated November 10, 1896.

. Serial No. 582,710. (No model.)

`not be cleaned. My perineal or thigh straps consist of soft-rubber tubes, each containing a piece of cord or tape, which is gathered or fulled in the tube to permit a certain degree of elongation of the tube and to limit its extensions when stretched to the length of the tape. This tube may be easily cleaned when soiled, is soft and agreeable to the wearer, and does not soon deteriorate and lose its elasticity.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference-numerals designate like parts wherever they occur.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bandage on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the back or rear section of the bandage, and Fig. 3 is a view of one of the perineal or thigh straps in central longitudinal section.

The numeral l indicates the front section, and 2 the back or waist section,of the band. These parts are made up of an outer portion or facing of silesia, corset fabric, or other suitable textile material, a lining or inner portion of some soft agreeable fabric, and stiffening or stay strips arranged vertically of the bandage and held in place by superposed webstrips 4, stitched to the4 face of the bandage. Elastic goring 5 is set into the rear section. A series of short straps 6 is attached to this section, and are to vbe connected to the buckles 7, attached to the ends of the front section. A girth-strap 8 is attached at the upper edge of the rear section and extends downward and forward to the lower edge of the front section, where it is centrally held in place by a hook 9. This girth-strap passes through the loops of the opposite lower buckles 7, and is for the purpose of sustaining the band at the point of greatest strain. It also serves to support in great part the Weight of the abdomen, and is readily adjusted by means of the buckle 10.

The perineal or thigh straps l1 (see Fig. 4) are each composed of a soft-rubber tube 12, having a length of tape or cord extending through it from end to end, and the terminals of the tape are connected to the tube andto short tabs 14 by stitches or equivalent means. A short section of tubing 15 is drawn over the point of connection to cover the fastening means. It will be noted that the tape is gathered in the tube, so as to per- IOO mit a limited elongation or extension of the tube. One of the tabs 1401 each perineal or thigh strap is permanently attached to the rear section at 1G, and the opposite terminal tabs are to be connected to buckles 17, attached to the front section 1. I contemplate the use of these perineal or thigh straps with Various kinds of bandages and for other purposes. The fact that they are soft and compressible, readily cleaned, agreeable to the wearer, do not rub and chafe, and that they do not soon deteriorate makes them a Very useful adjunct to surgical bandages.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The herein-described abdominal supporter consisting` of the stiffened separable front and rear sections, 1 and 2, connected at the sides by the short straps, G and buckles 7, the girth-strap, S, attached to the rear section, at the top and extending obliquely downward and around the front section, the hook on the front section for holding the girth down, and the perineal or thigh straps 1l, composed of soft-rubber tubing, having puckered tapes passing therethrough to limit their extension, said tapes being1 stitched to the tubes at the ends, and the stitches covered, substantially as described.

It witness whereof I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 29th day of February, 1896.

CHARLOTTE ADELAIDE IROVOOS'I.

IVitnesses:

ODELL R. BLAIR, GEO. A. DAVIS. 

